Hunting the Gurtha Maten --The Hunt--

~Yeah, heres an especially long post from me...~

Ax could find himself standing next to a giant castle. Ax turned his head to the right and left, he could feel that he was young, twenty or nineteen, not older. On the right of him, there were two other man, thought from their smell, Ax knew they were Lycans. On the other side, there were three other Lycans. Ax remembered them well. Age, Hil, Rethius, Mahj, Eghtan. They were his best friends, and even more, his friends. Hil, the one girl in the whole group of Lycans was Ax's lover. Ax realised that he and Hil were holding hands. "Well! Lets go and get our heats busted! Eawifth Afhail, ordered us, the special team of Lycans to assasinate Draco! Which is past impossible!" said Age, in his sarcastic, yet inspiring voice.

Ax remembered who Eawifth Afhail is, he is the Lycan King, the one who created the giant luxurious hideout for Werewolves and Lycans, and the one who was the most powerfull Lycan in the world. Rethius nodded understandebly. Rethius was a strict guy, who always obeys the commands of the king. "What must be done, must be done!" said Rethious raising his sword.

The moon rose above the six Lycans, and at the same time, turning them into beasts. However none of them were happy, once they were in Draco's castle, there was no moonlight there. The friends continued into the Castle... Followed by silence. Ax had some flashbacks of them walking in a hall... Fighting someone... Like a recording machine. It suddenly stopped. Ax was standing his sword in his hand, in no condition to fight. He was soaked with blood and could feel some wounds aching on his body. "NO!" shouted Ax as Draco slipped a sword into Hil's throat. Suddenly, the last Lycan left, Mahj jumped on Draco's back and stuck the sword with the potion that could kill Draco spilled over it. Draco's castle was collapsing... However Mahj had to hold the sword for atleast two minutes before Draco is completely killed. Draco dropped his sword on the cold and wet floor. "AX! GO! TAKE THE ROMANIAN SWORD IN PROOF THAT WE KILLED DRACO! GO!" shouted Mahj. Ax nodded as he ran to the sword, picked it up, and jumped throu the window...

Ax openned his eyes lightly minutes later, all in sweat. His two wounds from the arrows still ached. Five out of the dozen of wolfs who came from the forest came upon the battlefield, one jumped on a Drow, and landed his fangs on the Drows neck, killing him instantly. Others did the same, helping in killing the last of the Drows.

Of all the things to wake Vistalzidar from his exhausted sleep, it happened to be the lightness in his quiver, such a small change enough to stir him. His eyes flickered open and rested on the empty quiver, but rather than being confused, a smile came to his lips. He knew who had used the arrows, he could smell it, as well as sense it.
He watched as the last of the Drow were picked off and used the time to shake himself fully awake. "Veleanith...you," his smile broadened. "My light magic worked," he said in wonder. "Mothers blood does run stong within me...easily as strong as fathers."
He stood, took Veleanith into his embrace and gave her a long and passionate kiss.
"Thankyou," he said when he pulled away slowly. "Thankyou for being here with me...for helping defeat Talloth. Without you, I never would have stood a chance."

Veleanith stood in his arms, looking up to him with a warm smile, dropping her bow lightly to the ground, allowing herself to slide a hand past his cheek. “I can not imagine myself anywhere else in this world but with you at this moment…” Kissing him playfully, she smirked. “Although, I imagine that the battle probably might have gone better without me in your midst,” Rubbing at the back of her neck, flushing, she smiled. “I told you when we first met that I was nothing but trouble and so far this motley crew is banned from Mardonin and we just barely scraped through open war…” She grew serious, looking him in the eyes. “Tell me, Vistalzidar, do you believe I am worth the trouble?”

Lanilor stood up after sitting at the base of a tree watching Ismalia Kill some of the last remaining Drow. He looked over to a different tree and saw one of his forearm blades and his blood soaked dagger. He put his big sword in its sheath on his back and then walked to the rest of his stuff which was near Vistalzidar and Veleanith. He walked over and picked up his stuff putting the dagger back in the sheath on his leg and attaching his forearm blade back on his arm the strap covering up his healing wrist wound. Then he walked past the two love birds and heard them speaking “Tell me, Vistalzidar, do you believe I am worth the trouble?” he heard Veleanith say. Lanilor inturruped quickly and sharply "Of course you are" Lanilor said leaning against a tree with a smile on his face watching Ismalia go to a tree on the other side of the battle field.

Before he could get out a word, a voice intruded on the two’s conversation, answering Vele’s question. “Of course you are.”

Veleanith turned her intense stare away from Vistalzidar’s eyes, looking back to who had answered. Lanilor stood, leaning by a blood splattered oak, smiling casually as he watched Ismalia go by. Forming an awkward smile, Vele nodded. “Thanks…”

Almost instantly she regretted it, a horrible burning sensation coming from her throat. Gulping, she tried to get rid of the horrible parched dry feeling but it only seemed to make it worse, her eyes starting to water. Placing a finger to Vistalzidar’s lips before he could form a sentence, a sorry smile appeared across her face, a regretful look to her eyes.

She motioned to her throat quickly before pointing back to where she was going. Planting a quick kiss on his cheek, she smiled, turning around once done and dashing off in the direction of helpful whispers, hoping they would lead her to where she wanted to be. After a minute, she skidded to a stop, spotting ahead of her sanctuary.

Walking ahead a few more steps, her feet became cold from the thick muddy bank. She ignored the freezing sensation, a look of bliss across her face as she fell to her knees, a light splash heard as water doused her upper attire, cleansing the drying remnants of blood from her skin.

Dipping both hands into the water, Veleanith took a long gulp of the mountain crisp cool water, sighing in content after she had gotten her fill. She could taste a trace amount of blood in the liquid, most likely from any who had managed to die in it but at the moment, she had been desperate. Anything would have been good.

Leaning back at ease, Vele looked up to the night sky, slowly turning into dawn, the sun coming up blood red in representation of all the blood that had been spilt. The expression in her eyes became vague, she starting to close her eyes in prayer. However, halfway through, a loud screech erupted in the sky. Opening up a tired hazel eye, Vele surveyed what looked to be an eagle swooping down in her direction.

‘Must be a figment of my imagination…’ Starting to close her eyes back, she stopped at feeling a light weight on her thigh, talons piercing into her skin. Now annoyed, she scowled, sitting up properly and quickly finishing up her prayer. Lifting her lids apart, she glared evilly to the eagle perched on her leg, the only thing stopping her from swatting it away being what looked to be a small piece of weathered parchment attached to its leg.

“Curious…”

Sharpening a nail, she cut the thin strand of brown leather binding the paper to the eagle, unfurling the beige parchment in avid curiosity. In scrawled writing, under the light of the oncoming sun, she read it out loud to herself.

-Vele

It has been over three days as of now and we have not heard hide or hair of you. Istalindir and I have already ventured past The White River and onto the city of Tel-Quanim. Currently, we are resting (and Istalindir is retrieving a horse for himself) at The Seven Horses, an inn deep within the center of the city. We will wait no more than two days for you to return, three if I receive a message back in response. Hoping to hear from you if you are alive, if you are dead…

Wrong recipient.

-Njord

A smile curled her lips once she finished reading, surprised to hear from her former comrades. Taking out a feather from the eagle’s side, to its great disapproval, she pricked herself slightly, having to use blood to make up for the lack of ink. Shrugging at how gruesome it would seem, she began a response.

-Njord

It is very nice to hear from you. Safe to say it has been awhile. I did not go through with my hit and coincidentally, I have happened upon two of your former comrades. Three more have also joined our ranks, making it five as of now. The past two days have been quite hectic, open war and the such, but I shall find a way to make it back to you two safely. Take care, try not to get into too much trouble and tell Istal to try and enjoy himself. Being consistently on edge is not too healthy!

Enjoying life…among other things…and people

-Vele

Rolling up the parchment, she attached it back to the eagle, holding back a wince as it loosened its grip from her thigh and flew off towards the south. It wasn’t until the bird had become but a dark spot in the sky, her face turned ashen in thought. ‘Have I gone mad?! How am I going to make it to Tel-Quanim in three days? The journey to the White River alone from such a distance is four days on horseback…it is impossible. Well…almost,’

Her thoughts wandered off to an associate of hers not too far off from her location. She managed a series of underground routes along with other mysterious ways of travel that were able to cut most long distances to a day’s journey or less. ‘But her form of payment is not in my best interest…’ She let out a small shudder, face peering into the water. ‘…Also, I am not quite certain if the others would wish to travel with me.’

Throwing her cloak back onto the grass, Veleanith let her raven hair drape over her cold figure, golden eyes intently gazing into the clear, pebble filled water, her breathe coming out in barely a whisper. “And I find…I find I do not want to leave you, Vistal…” She sighed, lowering her head to hide her guilty smile. “I barely even know you and yet, I find myself in love with you, not wishing to part even for a day,” She dragged her fingertips across the surface of the water, creating a small wave as she tossed aside a leaf. “But I made a promise to my other comrades and I do try to keep my word.”

Splashing herself lightly to clean up the blood staining her skin, Vele washed her hair, leaning back casually once done, glistening beads of water trailing down her skin. Tossing her hair behind her back, she set her eyes on the lingering stars, still in wonder as to what would be her next course of action. She sighed after a moment. “What a predicament…”

"What a mess," Vistalzidar commented to Lanilor as he surveyed the remnants of the battle. "So many of my kind dead...at I time I will need them the most."
"They left you little choice, Vistalzidar," Lanilor consoled him. "They were under the command of a ruthless ego maniac, this," he motioned to the dead bodies, "was the only way to solve the problem. An unfortunate outcome, but a neccessary one. Do not blame yourself."
Vistalzidar smiled at the Vampire, knowing Lanilor was right. "In time, I shall re-build my race to prosperity...starting with a city. Every race needs a mojor city of some kind, doesn't it?" Vistalzidar shrugged. "Well, whatever. I will build something for my people. But first, the problem of the Gurtha Maten must be taken care of." Vistalzidar bowed to Lanilor. "If you will excuse me for a moment?...I must speak with some of my brethren."
Lanilor frowned in confusion. "But...we just killed them all, didn't we?"
Vistalzidar chuckled, shaking his head. "My friend, if all of Talloth's forces had come at us at once, we would surely be dead. No, Lanilor, you must remember Talloth's ego. He expected to crush us with a meagre force and his Shadow affinity alone."
Vistalzidar nodded his head to the east. "Not far within the forest waits a small force of Drow. They will know of Talloth's death and sense who killed him, just as I sense them now. They will cause no trouble for us, for as of now, they see me as their leader."
"I see," Lanilor smiled and nodded. "Then go to your people. We will be here for a while one would think. There are many bodies to burn."
Vistalzidar bowed again and turned on his heel, marching into the darkness to meet with his brethren.

Lanilor watched Vistalzidar walk off into the distance then he turned to the camp. He went to the tent and looked inside, Ismalia was resting in the corner so Lanilor sneaked in and grabbed his big cape. He put it on as he left the tent and went out into the battle field. He put his hood up coz the sun was about to come up and started removing armour and weapons from the bodies ready to burn them.

Ax stode up, he had been healed by the wolf's mystic powers. Now, a dozen of wolfs stode around him. " Go my friends, I do not require your help any further" said Ax. The wolfs let out a barf which made Ax smile, and then scurried off into the woods. Ax looked up into the moon, and let out a giant howl, the howl all Lycans let out when they won a battle, like a spiritue.

Veleanith sat plainly, looking onto the bank drearily as sharp beams of orange yellow light struck into the crystalline streams, luminance bouncing off glittery pebbles and shimmering across her sword. ‘My unsealed sword…’ Picking it up from its hilt, she whipped it around, making graceful swings as the deceptively light blade sliced through the air. Her hand grew warm from the hilt, Vele’s light energy naturally infusing with the swords. She looked at the scripture once more, mumbling it beneath her breath.

Nothing happened, the events only hours ago starting to seem illusionary. Turning the blade to its opposite side, she furrowed her brow at an odd discovery. Engraved into the blade in what she recognized to be elven was her name…or to be more precise, her last name. “Interesting…” She trailed her finger along the gold filled grooves, stopping at the ‘T’ with a curious scowl. “So it would seem someone has pilfered my family’s heirloom and has created a business from it? Or perhaps it is coincidence that this blade is now in my possession?”

Shrugging, Veleanith sheathed the sword swiftly. “It is doubtful. But at least I finally managed to unseal it…” She drifted off, making a face as she pulled her sword back from its sheath…or tried to anyway. It wouldn’t budge, showing no sign of easy resistance. Veleanith balled up a fist, holding back several swears. ‘Must I spill vast quantities of blood? Is that the only way I will be able to use this cursed holy sword? Gods!’

Groaning frustrated, Vele tossed a handful of mud into the river. Getting to her feet begrudgingly, she threw her cloak over her shoulders and made her way back to the site, hood veiling her tired features. At the moment she wished to do nothing more but sleep but considering the circumstances and the mass amount of corpses on the battlefield, she knew that would be incompetence on her part.

Making the sign of the cross, a sigh left her lips as Veleanith started to help Lanilor organize the bodies, glad for a distraction away from the choice she’d eventually have to make. Once done, she grimaced at what would be the method of getting rid of the corpses. She placed a hand across her waist, resting her elbow on that arm as her knuckles dug lightly against her cheek, she only able to watch Lanilor gather the remaining bodies into a pile. ‘Could we not have just buried them? I would have gladly done the hard labor as it’s better than the scent of burnt flesh in the morning…’

"Well there are many methods of disposing bodies. But this one is up to you?" Lanilor said picking up the last couple of bodies,the sun beating down on them. He looked at his work one big pile of bodies and another big pile of weapons and armour. "Like i said it is up to you" Lanilor said looking staright at Veleanith.

Ax came up to Lanilor after doing his howling spiritual. "It has been a bloody battle..." he muttered. Ax put a hand on Lanilor's shouler. "Sorrry for doubting you for your kind, friend" said Ax smiling.

Lanilor said from inside his big hood, hiding from the sunlight but still doing his part. "No problem dont worry I am also sorry for doubting you because of your kind" Then putting the last body on the pile and trowing the armour and weapons into the other pile. "It is just I have very personal reasons for hateing your kind" He said slightly looking up only able to see a little smile on his face.

Vistalzidar's ears pricked. He could hear the commotion at the war site as the weapons were stacked. He turned to Aelizor. "Go, make sure they aren't burning the weapons and armour. There are precious Shadow Scripts inscribed in some of those peices."
As Aelizor trotted off, Vistalzidar turned to the Drow gathered. "In this battle, you have seen defeat, but ultimately, from within its ashes, victory rides unto the horizon. From this destruction, our race shall be reborn. Cities will be rebuilt, our social structure shall be reorganised, and we will prepare ourselves for the trials to come. Others have my alleigence pledged to them, though they may not realize it, and I do intend to be a man of my word. However, my race will always come first and I swear to you, that I will lead the Drow into the Promised Land. You have my pledge...now...will you accept it?"
There was a slight hesitation as the Drow warriors glanced at one another, then, as one, they went to a knee. "We accept your pledge and give our Body, our Soul and our Shadow to the cause. May you live forever, Lord High Drow!"
Vistalzidar's heartbeat quickened and his chest tightened as a single silver tear made its way down his cheek. The oath, an oath that had not been spoken since well before the destruction of his society, touched him deeply. He would make sure he stood true with his pledge to these men, even if it cost him his life in the process.

Aelizor came up to Lanilor and Ax. "Dont burn the weapons and armour" He said paniking. "Dont worry im not that silly they are right here" Lanilor said stepping aside to show the pile. "Now tell Vistalzidar that its ok" He said Picking up a shovel "We are not burning them" Then he started to dig.

Ax smiled up as he looked into the moon. "This is a field surrounded by two forests, the forest we came from, and the Forest Of Howls, Forest Of Howls is called so because many howls are heard from it. Why? It is a home place for Wolfs... And the kingdom of Werewolves... The peaple there will welcome us, for I am the son of great Fi'sahrt, I better go teel Vistalidzer..." said Ax too Lanilor before trotting off to Vistalidzar. As he found him, he told hom everything he said to Lanilor about the forest.

Vistalzidar nodded at Ax's words. "I know the region, Lycan, like the back of my hand. I know just what walks, crawls flies or slithers through these forests. Perhaps now, after this turn of events, our kinds can exist beside each other on far better terms than in the past. That will be up to you to help me in that department."

Ax smirked. "And what digs?" asked Ax. Ax knew the kingdom of Werewolves was behind the grounds. Only a werewolve, which was pure good, and not made to do it, could enter it. There is a special code... A special transformation code.

Veleanith started to dig with Lanilor, noticing casually as Ax bound off towards the forest. Her brows furrowed, the arduous effort involved in digging through the mountainous region strangely satisfying, a way of having her bemused carapace slowly dissolve, indecision replaced with concentration.

Halfway through the digging of the makeshift graves, a thought occurred to her. She frowned. “I know Ax went off to converse with Vistalzidar…oh too conveniently when work needed to be done,” With the back of her hand, she wiped off sweat beads starting to build on her forehead. “Not that I am trying to say anything…any how, to my point. Where exactly has Vistalzidar ran off to?”

Lanilor looked up from digging, various golden armors and silver swords glinting behind him in the sunlight. “Into the forest to the leftover Drow…with Talloth gone, he will be seen as the new leader. He intends to rebuild his race onto the prosperity they once had,” Lanilor looked thoughtful for a minute. He shrugged to Vele, giving off a boyish charm as he went back to work. “Or something along those lines.”

Veleanith nodded her head to the news, a strange smile across her face. “So,” With a grunt, she dug her shovel through the earthen soil, tossing dirt over her shoulder. “He is to rebuild his society and lead his people onto greatness…” Cocking her head, she focused intently on finishing up the grave. “Then maybe, as some sort of, I don’t know, tale of lore, he will go from assassin to King,” She laughed to herself lightly at a revelation that had occurred.

Then as King he takes a queen…a Drow queen of course, something that I am not, Laying out her hand, she wiggled her hand, counting all five honey fingers with a rueful smile. It never even occurred to me of our differences…how odd it comes to me now, Thinking heavily, she brutally tossed dirt over her shoulder, increasing her pace. I am but a mutt of a vampire, feeding off the living to survive…ah wells, perhaps I think too heavily on such matters. Maybe I am just-

“VELE!”

Shaking out of her thoughts, Veleanith looked up quickly, placing her hand to her lips to hide a smile at seeing Lanilor covered in dirt, courtesy of her. “My apologies for that…but you bellowed?”

Extending his arms out, Lanilor motioned to the hundreds of graves, the sun now beginning to set in the western sky. “We are finished here. You do not need to dig anymore,” He commented dryly, motioning to her four foot hole.

Laughing to herself, Veleanith pulled herself from the pit, dusting off the soil from her hands and cloak. Now up to Lanilor, she looked up to him curiously, then with a warm smile, gave him a brief hug. Hands resting on his shoulders, she looked to him friendly like. “My way of thanks…for saving me from Talloth whilst we had been in battle…and then trying to save me with your blood. Though you and I both know vampire blood is hardly, if at all potent. We only bite each other for pleasure and nothing more!” She joked lightheartedly, laughing cheerily despite feeling strange.

Sighing, Vele plopped herself down to the ground, removing her hood now that the sun was no longer at its peak. “So what will we all do from here? Perhaps we could all travel southern bound together once everybody has completed their affairs. Then again, who’s to say we are not all heading in different directions? Whatever, I think I shall leave by morning…”

Hands clutched around her knees, Vele sighed watching the sun. Whether it be in good company or none at all…

Ax needed to visit his home... His kingdom... Ax smirked. "I'll be back after sun rise!" shouted Ax to everybody before leaving off into the forest. The brushes lightly hit his face and cheeks, but he didn't mind. He heard wolves devour a deer pray. Nobody dared to enter these woods, that is if they were sane... Gray wolfs here could kill an unarmored human easily... Thought Ax had a connection with wolfs. They would obey his commands, and never dare to attack them. The wolfs knew that Ax's kind is the ancester of theirs... A much more better ancestor of theirs... Ax came upon a very unsuspicious group of trees. Four in all... Almost looked like they were lined up in size... Ax patieantly waited for the moon to rise. When it did, Ax first came up to the first tree. THe branches hid so much of the moon, that only Ax's feet transformed to massive gray feet. Ax came up to the next tree, again the branches hid so much of the room that he transformed only up to his torso. When he came to the next one, he transformed to his shoulder height. And the very last one, he fully transformed. The four trees suddenly started to glow, and in a place where there was a huge boulder, stood a wolf's face, with its mouth open. Ax came into the mouth, and as he did so, the wolf's face dissapeared, to show only a boulder. Once Ax entered, he went deeper and deeper... He heard many noises... And then he came uppon the giant city, with Lycans everywhere doing diffrent things. It was one of the huge cities, the capital of the Werewolf underground. Suddenly, all ten thousand, or even more Lycans froze. And looked at Ax. Ax was surprised by all this attention. "What is wrong? Do you not recognise me?" asked Ax to one particular woman who was the closest to them. "No... Efcours not mi'lord... WE have been waiting for your arrival for a long time... Your father died, and you must take the throne" the woman said. Ax couldn't beileve this... His father... Dead? No... COuldn't be... Ten royal Lycans came up to Ax, and crowned him. The crown didn' t look fancy, but it was a very important symbol.